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Cheep and cheerful occasional treat

I have to confess that I do like the occasional fast food meal and usually McDonalds is my first choice. I also like the fact that in any I have tried, the food is consistent. The 24 hours a day opening is another bonus for me, as although my insomnia has now eased thanks to medication, it used to be a comfort knowing that I could jump in the car at 4am and go get a burger. I never did (my nearest is 12 miles away and I never wanted something to eat THAT much) but the thought was there. It also means that as I am usually the designated driver whenever I go out, I can stop and get something to eat on the way home. Though I don't do that as often; not since a drunk guy who has been refused service at the drive through tried to get in the car beside me so he could be served. I do sometimes wonder how much trade they get at 3am, but it must be enough for them to stay open the clock round.

I was in my teens before I had my first McDonalds. At that time, there weren't any outlets outside of Belfast, and I was rarely in Belfast because of the troubles. Now, the large yellow Ms are a common sight across Northern Ireland.

McDonalds have a bad reputation with many people, including food snobs. Yes, people can argue that the food is tasteless, there is no nutritional value and that McDonalds is responsible for the obesity epidemic, but you can't please all of the people all of the time. There are also a lot of urban myths surrounding the chain, most of which I am certain there is no truth in. I'm sure that there has been rogue staff that worked for the chain in the past, but I can't imagine that people would be allowed to put their own 'special sauce' on burgers nowadays. Especially not since the 'Scores on the Doors' initiative was introduced by councils. I have also noticed that the restaurants have had a makeover in recent years and have been given a more upmarket look with design features such as wood panelling and perspex. The restaurant areas are also light, bright and airy.

I was given the advice of never visiting McDonalds at quieter times, as food could have been sitting around for longer. Though, ordering a burger without an ingredient can usually endure you get a freshly cooked burger as well.

McDonalds have made an effort to have some 'healthier' options on the menu in recent years. The healthier options include a side salad of Mixed salad with carrot and cherry tomatoes served with balsamic dressing which you can have as part of a meal, or separately at a cost of 99p. I would recommend if you are wanting a side salad to order earlier in the day, as it can get a bit limp in the evenings (hmmmmmm, (must resist inserting joke here). There is also a grilled or crispy chicken salad, with or without bacon available, with a choice of Caesar or Balsamic dressing. McDonalds have faced criticism about the calories in their salads, mainly because of the creamy dressings, but the balsamic dressing with the grilled chicken is a relatively healthy choice.

McDonalds are best known for their burgers, the most famous being the Big Mac, which is two beef patties with lettuce, onions, pickles, cheese and the secret recipe Big Mac sauce. Other burgers on offer include:The Quarter Pounder which is A quarter pound beef patty with two slices of cheese, onions, pickles, mustard and a dollop of Heinz® Tomato Ketchup in a sesame seed bun. Filet O Fish, an Alaskan Pollock or Hoki served with ½ a cheese slice and tartare sauce in a crisp breadcrumb coating. McChicken Sandwich, a reformed chicken breast burger, served with mayo and lettuce. There are also limited edition burgers often available such as the Big Tasty (one of the worst burgers I've ever eaten) and seasonal promotions such as Great Tastes of Summer.

The fries are world famous and I am partial to the occasional portion. My only criticism is that sometimes they could be cooked slightly longer, but some barbecue sauce usually sorts that out.

Another well known item on the menu is the kid's meals - known as happy meals. Consisting of a hamburger, cheeseburger or chicken nuggets, a small portion of chips or carrot sticks and a drink, they are ideal for smaller appetites. You also get a toy, usually from a popular cartoon or a film that the company are promoting. I recently bought a couple of happy meals and got Smurfs figures along with my meal. You can also buy the figures separately, but I don't think that's as much fun!

There is also a cheaper value menu available, for times when you only have about £2, or just wanting a snack. This poundsaver menu includes the McChicken Mayo which is crispy coated chicken with lettuce and mayo in a toasted bun, the double cheeseburger, a small side salad or a regular portion of fries. Prices are around 99p, or £1.49 for the Double Cheeseburger, which seems to shoot up in price every year or so.

The Deli choices range is a variety of fillings served in either a roll or a wrap. Every day, one of these is available to purchase for £1.99 for the sandwich and £3.69 for the meal. If it's not the sandwich of the day, they are available for £2.99 and £4.49 respectively. The choices for the deli meals are as follows;Sweet Chilli Crispy ChickenGrilled Chicken SaladCrispy Chicken & BaconSpicy Veggie (approved by the Vegetarian Society)

I don't really drink tea or coffee, but I have heard a lot of good reports about the coffee in McDonalds. Coffee is freshly ground and you can have your choice of Latte, Cappuccino and Espresso. Prices are around £2 for a large coffee on it's own, but it is also available in the meals.

Other drinks available include soft drinks, water Tropicana orange juice and Fruit Shoots. There is also a drink available with happy meals called Fruitizz, which is made with grape, apple and raspberry juice and sparkling water. I usually get this when I buy a happy meal and it is a refreshing, fruity drink. McDonalds are also very well known for their milkshakes, but I haven't ever tried these, as I'm not a milkshake fan, but I know they are very popular.

There is also a fairly varied desserts menu available. These include whipped ice cream served in a cone (with or without a flake), as an ice cream sundae with strawberry or toffee sauce, or as a McFluffy, a sundae with smarties, dairy milk or crunchie pieces mixed through the ice cream. There are often special McFlurry's available, with the inclusion of chocolatey delights such as KitKats, Matchmakers and Galaxy chocolate. Other desserts include apple pie, chocolate brownies, muffins and doughnuts.

Their breakfasts are another favourite of mine, although not one I often indulge in. I am particularly fond of the pancakes and syrup and the hash browns. Not the healthiest of breakfasts, but as with most things on McDonald's menu, okay in moderation. Breakfasts are served from 5am - 10:30am. Breakfast items include Bacon Rolls, Breakfast Wraps, sausage or bacon and egg McMuffins and Pancakes & Sausage with Syrup There are also healthier choices available such as Oatso Simple Porridge and bagels with Philadelphia or Flora.

I do think that the menu is very limited if you are a vegetarian, although I am guessing that vegetarians aren't one of their main focus groups. There was a Quorn burger on the menu for a while, but it has been discontinued. The only vegetarian items available on the menu are the fries and the veggie wrap/sub.

While not as cheap as they used to be, it is still good value. With a burger, chips and a drink costing around £5.00 on average (some are cheaper, some more expensive, but I rounded it up), it's cheaper than some other fast food outlets. It's also generally fast service, so ideal for when you're in a hurry and want to grab something to eat. McDonalds also often run promotions to tempt customers into the store, such as free Coca Cola glasses and the very popular Monopoly where you can win anything from cars and cash to a (more frequently) a free McFlurry.

McDonalds isn't fancy food, but sometimes I just want something fast and quick, and McDonalds does me. I also find that the quarter pounder burgers are a fantastic hangover cure. I know that the food served in McDonald's isn't to everyone's tastes, but I think it's fine as an occasional treat and I find that the food served is consistent, so it's handy to know that when if you are in a new area, the food will be familiar. Even in Europe, I have found that the food tastes similar to what is served here. It's a nice occasional treat, but don't eat too many as they're not the healthiest of meals, but we all need an occasional treat, I think anyways.

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Worst place I have ever eaten

McDonald's is a fast food restaurant, they are the biggest and some say the best in what they do with around 70 million customers on a daily basis in over 100 countries.

Typical McDonald's Menu...

McDonald's are famous for their burgers, fries, wraps and breakfast meals. Health wise McDonald's are not known to be typically healthy and it is one of their biggest criticism, from experience I remember having a burger meal which included a drink and fries they actually amounted a THOUSAND calories, that is half my RDA as a women and 2/3rds recommended RDA for a child. I am not a calorie counter or really someone who disagrees with eating food which is seen as unhealthy, however this was the last time I ever ate there I was shocked and quiet disgusted by the fact such a small amount food could have such a large sugar and fat intake. Small amount yes...they have small-medium portions on average, I have to say I would understand maybe if the portions were bigger, however I cannot fathom why or how this food place continues to be so popular. I believe coming from a family were food was prepared well and relatively balanced and tasty, McDonald's for me is like "dog food", that is the nicest I can actually sound, nevertheless I have a friend who eats it like mental, but we agree we just have differing taste buds, after all this review is my expressed views.

The beef burgers, the meat I feel taste of rubber and just not like a fresh, like a good beef burger is meant to taste, the fries I must admit are really good and really nice, however the portion size is absolutely stupid as stated above, I feel it is unfair that the burgers are half the size of a burger you would get anywhere else, I don't understand how McDonald's gets away with such things, but with 70 million customers every day I suppose they have a massive fan base of people not minding.

The Chicken Salad wrap, which I think is McDonald's way of becoming more "normal" with their health issues, is okay, it could taste better and moister, but I suppose it is a start. The salad in the wrap is shredded I detest that it should be chunkier and because it is so thin I feel it is taking in so much water from being washed, it make the lettuce flimsy, which in return makes a loss of that crunch we can get. I only managed a bite after being tricked into eating it over a year ago by a friend who knew of my dislike of McDonald's, but I will say the Chicken Salad wrap is the closest to good food I have tasted in McDonald's.

Now obviously McDonald's is not a major "Posh" restaurant so you are not going to get classy or gourmet food, the menu overall I would describe as good a variety of bread and meat, but the end produce is low market food.

Cost of food...

Cost of food is decent a meal tends to cost 5 pounds, which I feel is why the statement... you get what you pay for applies well.

Standard of service/Atmosphere

Is always ...I wish I could use a foul word instead we can say terrible, it is always busy, I have not eaten there in 5 years however I do get dragged when a friend wants to pop in...and no matter where I am Manchester, Blackpool, Lancaster, London...it is always busy, people are on top of each other...it's just horrendous. It is not date or special material more so I am desperate to eat and need something quick. The workers are nice; none have ever been rude to me or anyone I know. My local McDonald's is always unclean probably due to the fact it is regularly busy, but even their standard of cleaning in comparison to rivals such as KFC is despicable.

Family friendly?

Yes they are, they have a kids menu, and also high chairs which you can put children into, children in fact from my experiences love McDonald's, they have a happy meal which is a big attraction for children and offers them a chance to have a meal a free toy, which is lovely for any child.

Overall

I use to be a regular customer at McDonald's...why? I was a teenager who followed my peer culture, the food was okay, but I realise now as an adult what real food is meant to be and how we are accepting less, which we should not and today can say it has been 5 years since I ate there, sadly though I have been back... when my friends decide to drag me there after a night out, but even drunk I manage to avoid the food. If you want good quality food avoid, if you want decent food avoid, if you want below average then go ahead.

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Recommended for those needing lunch in a hurry, or just a tasty treat.

I have been going to McDonalds for longer than i remember, but in the time i've been going there the store has changed a lot, for better and for worse. You used to get bacon cheeseburgers, but they don't do them now. You used to get curly fries back in the early 00's, not anymore. But they now do Monopoly every year, and often do limited promotions such as the Indian, Australian and Mexican burgers, which were a 4 week special event. Swings and roundabouts.

There's nothing i enjoy more than a chicken sandwich or chicken nuggets, but recently these have both gone up in price far beyond what i'd call "reasonable", making me wonder whether i should just go to KFC which sells a wider variety of chicken products for much less. Take the fillet burger, thats got more chicken so is better value. McDonalds chicken products are not exactly filling, they are more for their beef products. So if you like beef go to McDonalds but these guys really aren't much competition for KFC where chicken is concerned. Their poultry products (to me at least) are not up to scratch.

The restaurants have recently been renovated to look modern and clean inside, and this includes lots of comfy leather sofas and wooden benches (albeit MDF) and they have some nice wooden outdoor benches for when the summer never comes around. Their service counter is always clean and there's never any spilled food or drink on it, as this always gets mopped up by the staff pretty quickly.

The bins are also emptied very regularly and the tables are wiped down with a cloth and spray (no label on the spray, so it could be Dettol, I hope) and while customers are supposed to clear away their own rubbish, the staff do happily clear it away if it's left on the table, saving the next person from doing it themselves.

When it gets really busy the stores are quite noisy, hectic, and there is nowhere to sit at the best of times. At the worst, nowhere to stand. In the centre of Nottingham the smaller stores get rammed full of people and staff will ask you to move if you try to sit on the floor or stand in the way of a door. Fair enough, but you're gonna have to go outside.

The only issue i have with McDonalds is the drive-thru which seems to be chaotic even when few people are using it. There have been countless times when people have messed up my order, got the wrong things in the bag and i've had to go inside to change them.

This happens quite a lot actually, so i'll knock 1 star off for this. If it didn't happen so frequently that'd be fine but sometimes it just gets out of hand. I remember ordering an apple pie and a coffee not that long ago; a small order you'd think, and they actually gave me a tea and lots of food in a bag. I'm an honest person, i never drive off, so i went inside the store and got it swapped for my correct order. Staff were apologetic and happy to change the order round.

Overall they are a good fast food restaurant but you still can't beat KFC for chicken products though, and their drive thru service is too disorganised. Otherwise an excellent fast food restaurant and to end on a positive note: Still the place i love going to for my lunch break.

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i'm lovin' it

The first McDonald's was opened in 1940 by the McDonald brothers in California. There are over 34 thousand restaurants in 119 countries across the world. These include restaurants and drive-thrus.

The UK has around 1200 McDonald's and yet in Guernsey we don't have one! The closest one to us is in Jersey. Often when islanders go to Jersey they bring back food from McDonald's and other fast food restaurants like Pizza Hut and KFC as we do not have one fast food restaurant on the island.

I love the food from McDonald's which is not really healthy but we only go a few times a year. My favorite is the Chicken McNuggets (yum yum) and so often we visit a few days in a row, (the most was 3 days in a row).

The service is always quick, as it is a fast food restaurant, but once when in Southampton at lunchtime it took ten to fifteen minutes to get food.

The prices are really cheap and an advantage if you have a student card is a free McFlurry with a meal. Often they have run out of these when we have been.

The only problem we have had with a few McDonald's is finding tables as they are always busy.

I can't wait until I next go away so I can visit again.

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Why not treat yourself and your family once in a while?

Over the years McDonald's has gained a bad reputation for the food it produces, but it's not all that bad! McDonald's claims that all the eggs they use even in salad dressings are free range, they only use cuts of 100 % British and Irish beef, they use organic semi-skimmed milk in all of their teas, coffees, milk bottles and porridge, only ever use fresh dairy milk for ice-creams, milkshakes and desserts, all of their pork comes from farms across Britain and Ireland, most of their potatoes are sourced from the UK, their vegetables and fruits come from England when in season, all the fish is from a sustainable source, all of their cheese is made in Northern Ireland and their burger buns and bread baked fresh in Manchester, Banbury and Oxfordshire. So really, I can't find anything to complain about on that front. Yes its fast food and fast food isn't supposed to be healthy (even though there are healthy-ish options on the menu!) but all of their produce is from local sources and they use 100 % beef. Quite frankly my children love McDonald's, my husband loves McDonald's and I love McDonald's and I don't want to deprive us of the things we love, everything in moderation is fine, so that's why once in a while me and my family will take a trip out to McDonald's for tea!

~ McDonald's Background ~McDonald's operates in over 119 countries across the globe. It first started in California in 1940. There are over 33,000 McDonald's restaurants worldwide and has over 420,000 employees. It is the worlds largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 68 million customers daily. McDonald's provides both counter and drive through services with indoor and sometimes outdoor seating.

~ Availability ~It's rare you will find anywhere in the UK without a McDonald's. It's a consistent fast food restaurant so it's nice to know there will always be something for you eat whilst out and about. There is nearly always one at motorway service stations and shopping centres.

~ Service & Staff ~When visiting McDonald's I always find me and my family are not left waiting long in the queue even if it's out of the door (which is often is). So it lives up to It's fast food status. Once you get to the till and order your food I find you are never left waiting long, and if you are going to have to wait the member of staff often offers to bring the items your waiting on over to you. The staff seem to deal pretty well with the business of the restaurant and I rarely get my order taken wrong and if I do I always get an apology and sometimes even a free food item. I usually find the staff to be nice and polite, they are often young but I don't have a problem with that because kids need jobs these days! As long as they respect me and my family whilst in their restaurant I have no issues. The manager is often ambling around so if there is any problems he/she is easy enough to get hold of.

~ The food ~McDonald's provide a variety of fast food products including beef burgers, fries, chicken burgers, wraps, fish, salads, breakfasts, kids meals, drinks and desserts all at very reasonable prices! You can get a child's meal for £1.99 which consists of either a burger, fish fingers or chicken nuggets with a small fries and a drink! Bargain! I always find the food to taste fresh (as fresh as fast food can taste anyway) the salad always seems crisp and the buns and bread are never stale. I have been served cold fries before which does seem to be a common occurrence so it's worth asking to wait for fresh fries if you're not in a hurry. All of the other food items always seem to come hot (obviously not the salad!) The menu caters for everybody including the health conscious which is nice as I am health conscious even though most of my reviews are on junk food :D nutritional information is displayed clearly on the menu too, so It's handy for the calorie counters. Another great thing about the food at McDonald's is that it's made to your taste, if you don't like mayonnaise you can have it without, if you don't want cheese they will take it out without any fuss! It's not often you can find a restaurant that will cater for the fussy people like me who are picky about what goes in their meal. The only complaint I have about the food is that there is lack of choice for vegetarians. I am not a vegetarian myself but I know people who are who would like to enjoy something apart from a plate of salad or a veggie burger. I find a lot of the food to taste very salty, especially the fries which isn't a bad thing for your taste buds but it may be for your health.

~ Overall opinion ~I don't think McDonald's is as bad as people make out, the service is good and the food is tasty and it's definitely family friendly. I would recommend McDonald's to anybody really, even dieters as you're sure to find something to suit your diet needs. I know McDonald's is a favourite with children especially. It's also much cheaper than say somewhere like pizza hut, so if your purse is looking a bit empty McDonald's is the place to go!

I'm Lovin' it!

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Don't let preconceptions tarnish your view of McDonalds

Here's something you won't see every day: a vegetarian giving McDonalds a good review! Well - a better review than you might expect. I've been going since I was a very small child, but didn't go for a long time because they didn't do any meals I could eat. I have since discovered three vegetarian meal options and they are actually delicious!

There are over 1200 McDonalds restaurants in the UK - plenty of opportunities to grab a bite. The locations certainly not coincidental; they always seem to be exactly where you want one. They're always easy to find and of course those famous golden arches make each restaurant very easy to spot!

==The Pros==

First of all, McDonalds is consistent. You can go into any branch in the country (and so far in my travels the world) and know what to expect. This is great for me because I like what I know and I know what I like! If you're in a strange City and not feeling too adventurous or you just want some reliable comfort food, for me McDonalds would be my first stop.

McDonalds employ over 80,000 people. In the current economic climate with high rates of unemployment, McDonalds really does benefit the community. They offer excellent training programmes and seem to really look after their staff. People joke about working at McDonalds as a low point, but as far as I can tell, there are worse companies to work for!

I always take the time to read the paper tray covers and it really emphasises the steps McDonalds are making towards health and sustainability. As an environment student, sustainability is very important to me. A company like McDonalds uses a lot of meat and they source this from British farmers, reducing the food miles and supporting local farmers. Their eggs are free-range and certified by RSPCA freedom-food standards. Furthermore, they have applied pressure on their supply chain to source fish sustainably in order to meet the standards of the Marine Stewardship Council. Cooking oil is reused as biodiesel for their fleets, restaurants are fitted with low energy light-bulbs, urinals are slowly but surely being converted to waterless urinals and packaging used in deliveries is being returned to the suppliers to be reused. There are countless ways they are trying to protect the world we live in - for more information see the 'Our News - Your Views' section of their website - some truly inspiring articles! The fact that a lot of this information is on their paper tray covers not only impresses people like me who are passionate about these causes, but may educate people who know nothing about it and show them that this is important - it's raising awareness of global issues!

As I've mentioned before, I like their choice of vegetarian meal options. After a bit of controversy a few years back, the fries are 100% vegetarian - the oil is filtered to ensure no contamination from the meat and fish fryers. There is a veggie burger, a spicy vegetable wrap and a spicy vegetable deli sandwich. The wrap and deli sandwich are discounted on a Tuesday because it is the 'deli of the day'. If you are a meat-eater, every other day has a different chicken based deli of the day which works out as a great deal.

Speaking of great deals, McDonalds, I find, is the cheapest fast food outlet. I find a meal is cheaper in McDonalds than if I got the same amount of food in Burger King or even Subway. The prices vary from store to store depending on location so check your local store to see the prices. They also offer a little bonus for students; with a valid student card you can get some free gifts such as a cheeseburger or a McFlurry with any meal.

The Menu changes seasonally with a lot of topical promotions. The old favourites stay there pretty much forever, but if you fancy something new and exciting there's usually at least one special item to try. The only bad thing about this is that you might fall in love with a new burger and have it disappear in a few weeks' time. There's currently onion rings on the championship menu (for the 2012 Euros) which I'm sure will disappear soon! Gutted!

The opening hours tend to be very good. A huge amount of McDonalds are open into the wee hours and many are 24 hours; this is great for those late nights after the pub - I can certainly admit to visiting with heels in my hand and a fair bit of alcohol in my system! If you're an early riser you can visit McDonalds for a breakfast McMuffin, a coffee and the famous hash browns! They also do bagels and wraps as part of the breakfast. Making them even more convenient are the numerous drive-thrus dotted across the country. These allow you to place and collect your order without leaving your car - the only problem with this is that if your order is wrong you're usually 10 miles down the road before you realise!

==The Cons==

The most obvious con, I suppose, is the negative health benefits associated with McDonalds. They have long been criticised for the salt content of their food. The NHS recommends that adults should eat no more than 6g of salt a day and children no more than 5g (up to 11). A cheeseburger and medium fries has 2.1g of salt which is actually a lot less than I was expecting. This meal will set you back 625 calories and 28g fat without a drink. Of course, you may wish to add a McFlurry at 340 calories at 13g of fat. Each one of those little pots of sauce is around 50 calories. You can see it soon adds up. But the fact is, they make it very easy to see how much is in each item. There is usually a chart on the back of the paper tray covers and on their website they have a nutrition calculator which allows you to put all the items in a calculator and it will tell you the information for the whole meal (excluding sauces).

A lot of the 'too good to be true' promotions usually are. The monopoly is one example - I know a lot of people who have played this A LOT and nobody has ever won anything more than a cheeseburger. They distribute the cards very carefully to make sure winning is unlikely. To be fair this isn't a real dig at McDonalds - they're a company that needs to make profits so they're really just being clever. It gets people buying their products; just make sure you don't get sucked in too much and spend hundreds of pounds trying to win a house!

During busy lunchtimes the whole system can seem a bit chaotic - the till attendants can take orders faster than the food is being made so there's a huge cluster of people waiting for their food by the till listening for their order. Queues sometimes go outside the door, but there's always enough staff guiding you to the shortest queue.

Currently, very little of the actual food packaging is recycled. McDonalds claim this is because cardboard contaminated with food cannot be sent to recycling plants. I feel they could have two separate bins - one for cardboard and one for non-recyclable waste. I'm sure McDonalds have looked at different ways of recycling this waste and I imagine we'll see some kind of improvement in the system soon!

==Overall==

Overall, Maccas is an eatery I will visit maybe two or three times a month. I would put it above Burger King and KFC any day. Their reputation is far worse than it should be, in my opinion, and I like the way they are heading into a sustainable future. The fact that their reputation has been so bad in the past means they are keen to lead the pack in these important issues. It's not an everyday treat, because it is still quite bad for you, but they're making a real effort to include more healthy options and, more importantly, more transparency in how bad the food actually is.

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Will keep going to Mcdonalds.

As a student, relying on fast food outlets is sometimes your only option, Mcdonalds, one of the best known retailers of them all, is not only a place of convienience but quick and cheap food, which, dependent on the level of hunger or strength of hangover, can sometimes taste amazing too.Okay, so we've probably all heard the stories about the filthy hygiene of Mcdonalds kitchens, about staff spitting in the burgers or the man who found a lizard in his fries etc... But, we still go there, because they are just RUMOURS. With several friends I have working at Mcdonalds, I can assure you that the hygiene is the same you will get at any other fast food outlet, trading standards would not physically let them open if they were as dirty as everybody makes out. I have had both good and bad experiences with Mcdonalds, the bad consisting of cold food, or ridiculous waiting times, but c'mon, the place is always packed full of people, and generally my food is given to me quickly, and hot enough to enjoy.My latest experience happened to be this afternoon, in which me and two starving friends popped in to pick up some food, for me, a Creme Egg Mcflurry and an Apple pie (I was in a dessert mood). Although the staff who served me did say that the apple pie would be about five minutes, it only took about two, and freshly cooked, it was piping hot. The Mcflurry is made whilst you wait, and although the sauce had managed to find it's way all over my cup, again, it came very quickly and filled hungry tummies, which satisfied me and my friends. For both items it was under £2, which was a good price to pay, as the rest of the items of food are.Knock them if you wish, but I also salute Mcdonalds for bringing out healthier options such as the Snack Wraps, Salads, and fruit bags. Paticularly when I am feeling hungry and want quick, healthy food, the healthy options have become my best friend.We ate in, and tables and floors were cleaned efficiently, again which I salute the cleaning staff for. I have witnessed the mess teenage boys can make when having a chip fight and they do work incredibly hard to try and maintain the reputation of the company.Overall, the food is what you pay for, nice enough, but not somewhere you would go to on a first date. The place is cleaned and bar the odd mistake, orders are usually given out quickly and the food is, well, at the least, edible. I would eat and Mcdonalds again and again unless I came across a mega issue. which I doubt will happen. It is suitable for all ages and I personally would regard it as a reputable fast food company which will be around for years to come.

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Just totally not for the enviroment peoples health nor Me ,,, na

McDonalds, the staple diet of the few, disliked by the masses of a certain age, Mcdonalds resturants are everywhere you go in every town in nearly every country in the world !===============A few chilling facts about Mcdonalds================* McDonald's' daily customer traffic 69Million people is greater than the population of Great Britain* McDonald's sells more than 75 hamburgers every second around the world !* McDonald's is the world's largest distributor of toys, with one included in 20% of all sales (Mcdonalds has no morals, it lures children to eat their food with the promice of a toy)* McDonald's' iconic golden arches are recognized by more people than the cross (does that send shivers down your spine ?)* For the next three years, McDonald's is going to open one restaurant every day in China (like it doesnt already cause misery to the enviroment and peoples health ?)=========================================================================

McDonald's mainly sells hamburgers, cheeseburgers, french fries, breakfast items, soft drinks, milkshakes and desserts. In response to changing consumer tastes. Due to increasing health risks accociated with mcdonalds they have introduced its menu to include salads, wraps, smoothies and fruit (bearing in mind a mcdonalds "healthy" salad contains just as much salt if not more than a big mac).

Over the years mcdonalds have been involved in alot of controversies including when vegetarian groups vegetarian groups, largely Hindu and Buddhist, successfully sued McDonald's for misrepresenting its French fries as vegetarian, when they contained beef broth.People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), continues to pressure McDonald's to change its animal welfare standards, in particular the method its suppliers use for slaughtering chickens. Most processors in the United States shackle the birds upside down, then run them through an electrically charged water tub to render them unconscious before slitting their throats.But there are alot more mcdonalds has been involved with that has upset people and activist groups over the years including what some call McGlobaliztion !!!

====my Review===So what do i think about Mcdonalds. Having sampled one of their Medium Big Mac meal a few years ago thats the only time i have ever tried their food,,, oh and apart from a "fry" i had once that felt like the salt on it was turning my lips white !To be honest i really didnt like their food i thought it tasted processed and just so dull, i had a diet coke which i later learnt arrives at the resturant (all resturants) in bags of syrup , and the bags get connected to a hose that pumps carbonated water thru it resulting in the coke you get served out the machine on the shop front (lovely lol).Its commerical food on a massive scale the biggest in the world and the draw back with such mass production is its obvious the quality will go down , cheaper products will be used, farmers in other countries get ripped off, Mcdonalds buy land "just in case" they need to build a mcdonalds there.I think not only do i not like their food, i dont like what mcdonalds stand for either they seem to show very little in the way of ethics, and i think thats one of the reasons i dont go in these places.

Verdict: Well each to his own but i prefer proper food !. And the sad thing is for as long as mcdonalds is brought and in demand they will just keep expanding and expanding which means fewer and fewer choises for the consumer, and if im honest the rate its going scares the hell out of me ,,,,

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You know what to expect when you see those golden arches!!

There are so many fast food resturnats on the market these days that you are often spoilt for choice, however if me or my friends are out and about, it's always Mackie D's for us!! Those golden arches are so distinguisable and you know no matter were you are, you know what you are going to get and what to order.

They have a decent varied menu, but I always just order the standard ~ plain hamburger, fries and a drink, if Im in a mood for something extra then maybe a couple of nuggets to share as well ~ The price I would say is quite reasonable compared to other competiters on the market; their 99p menu is pretty unbeatable.

Their childrens meals also in the form of the trusty 'happy meal' it used to be a standard £1.99, but I belive now it's £2.19 (I think this had something to do with the VAT increase) however still very worth while. You look around at others such as KFC, BurgerKing and they charge more, yet you don't seem to get as much for your money. The happy meals comes with a toy (which is often always part of a 'collection') this is very crafty as if children want to collect all the characters, then your going to have to go back the following week and buy another one (in the hope you won't get a duplicate of what you already have.) Now McDonalds have been very good in recent years and they have included a lot of healthier options, such as carrot sticks, fruit juice, milk fish fingers ect << the options are there. However more often than not, the reason you are going to McDonalds in the first place is because you want traditional McDonalds food, and not the healthy option.

McDonalds is marketed as a resturant, however the service you get more often than not is deffinitely not worthy of any resturant. You also have the option of going through the drive-thru; however the number of times you food is cold or wrong is ridiculous!

Overall I love McDonalds and will continue to eat here when on the move; I do feel McDonalds is the most educational of other fast food chains also as they advertise a lot and have a very informative website. All be it you may go online and look at the calorie content and think "gosh" however they are doing the right thing and putting the information out there; whether we choose to notice this and stop eating this is up to us the consumers.

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Great value and tasty but service sometimes poor

McDonalds is by far my favourite fast food restaurant. For me the convenience and tasty food is paramount. The price is very good value for and I especially like the pound saver menu. Also sometimes for a bite to eat I get a happy meal which are very cheap at £2.19. Obviously they are great for kids too. The breakfast menu is also very reasonably priced and especially like the new addition of a breakfast wrap. My favourite main meal would have to be chicken selects with BBQ sauce as you can tell they use actual chicken near and it is not processed which is great! This meal is also very filling for a meal. I also like the promotions McDonald offer for example a free glass when you order a large meal which is a great incentive! Overall, I think McDonald's are great for all the family in moderation of course. However the service can sometimes be poor which can be expected but not always accepted...

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Much loved fast food franchise, with a popular breakfast and daytime menu

Over the last 10 years we have had more and more fast food company's and franchise businesses starting up and expanding from our most commercial area's to the more rural of places.

Mcdonald's, now recognised internationally as a leader in the fast food industry seems to offer one of the best ranges of fast and enjoyable food with competetive pricing in comparison to the other competition on the market.

One of my favourite menu's at Mcdonald's is the poundsaver menu where you can selectively decide whats in your meal whether you would prefer an extra burger or extra fries these can be added for just 99p each, other quick bites which can be purchased for just 99p include the Mcdonalds Cheeseburger, Mayo Chicken burger and as a healthy alternative the Side salad, choosing a selection from the poundsaver is of similar value to purchasing an actual meal including a drink, burger and fries which is around £4.00 for a medium sized meal.

Mcdonald's offers a consistent service, whether it be general waiting time to be served, overall value for money and the relationship between its staff and its customers. Whether you travel from one end of the country to another you experience at Mcdonald's will be very similar to what you would expect close to home.

I haven't really had any major issue's with Mcdonald's other than the fact of the staff not listening correctly to the order and delivering goods as standard rather than as requested with lack of salad, sauces or mayo etc on such occassions, the staff have been helpful and friendly and offered a something for free for compensation of their mistake.

The other main bonus of Mcdonald's is the amount of stores which are available everywhere these days, including those which are open late or even 24 hours, and of course the drive-through option is of interest to many people who are truely in a hurry and would like to order and collect their food without hassle.

The only negative about Mcdonald's is the un-healthyness of the food, which if consumed daily or even several times per week could have a dramatic long term effect on ones health.

Overall though very happy Macky's customer always in search of the next yellow "M" :)

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Amazingly good tasting food for an occasional treat.

McDonalds has been around for many years now and is probably the most popular fast food chain in many countries.

I'm quite a fan of fast food, so over the years I've probably spent a lot of money at McDonalds restaurants. I can't resist they're burgers, not any specifically, just any of them! My favourite has got to be the Big Mac which I think is truly amazing.

I'm aware that McDonalds really isn't good for you, and I don't care to elaborate on the calorie content of any of the food that they serve because it will only make me feel guilty next time I eat it. All I know is that it isn't healthy, and you probably shouldn't eat it all the time.

McDonalds do a wide variety of food, pretty much something for everyone. There's chicken, beef, fish, salad and they do a really nice coffee range too. The happy meal is something I'm quite the expert in seeing as I've bought plenty of them over the years for my grandson. They're great for kids, as you get a small portion of fries or carrot sticks, a choice between nuggets, burger or fish fingers, a small drink and a free toy for £1.99. Aside from the happy meal, I don't really think the food at McDonalds is cheap. When I've gone with my daughter, two meals has come to the best part of £9, which isn't much because they are filling, but is quite a lot for fast food.

One of my favourite things about eating at McDonalds is the dips. I love the barbecue sauce with my fries and have been faithful to that one for years. A while ago though, my granddaughter had some of the other ones and got me to try them. The curry one is really nice, and the ketchup isn't bad though doesn't really go with the fries as well as barbecue. I also tried a chilli one but it wasn't my cup of tea. I wasn't even aware before then that they did such a variety.

I've never had a problem with McDonalds, for me, the food tastes good, fills me up and isn't ridiculously expensive. I tend to visit the drive-through's which are quite quick normally unless you go during a really busy time. Occasionally I've eaten in the restaurant and I think they're really nice too. My local two restaurants have recently been made up and look very modern and posh now. The toilets are always clean and the staff have always been polite to me when I've gone in there.

The milkshakes are another reason I used to visit McDonalds a lot. They come in chocolate, strawberry and bannana and they're lovely and thick and creamy. They're lovely. They're not too dear, I think about £1.99 although it's been a while since I bought one individually.

McDonalds is good for snack items when you're on the go too. for 99p you can get things like a cheese burger or a medium fries which isn't bad for a quick refill. They've also introduced the new snack wraps, both these small ones and the large ones. I've only had one of the big ones, a chicken and bacon one. It had barbecue sauce, salad, chicken strips and bacon in a big tortilla wrap for £2.99. It was outstanding so I must recommend these. My only qualm was the big tomato slice they always put on it. I don't like tomato so everytime I have one I have to unwrap it and take it off, and I always make a mess!

McDonalds is widely available, I actually thought you only got them in the likes of America, UK and Japan, but when I went on holiday to Lanzarote I saw a few there too, so they're expanding! Normally, you can't go to a town without seeing a McDonalds which is a good thing if you like them.

Overall, I really do like McDonalds. They're good for pretty much everyone, and although they really aren't healthy, I don't think it hurts to have a treat now and again, especially one that tastes so good!

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A well-recognised fast food establishment with a standard menu.

McDonald's - I doubt there is anyone in the Western world who hasn't at least heard of the famous American fast food chain. You might love it, you might hate it, but I have to say I am somewhat ambivalent myself. Despite bad press over the years the company remains popular with customers still queuing up for the standard offering of burgers, chips, chicken and ice cream.

If you take McDonald's and judge it by health value, ethical principles and food quality, it is probably not going to come top in any contest. 100% British beef, perhaps, but it is common knowledge now that many UK fast food restaurants ship in ethically ambiguous cheap frozen chicken from South America. In terms of health value, a lot of the food is fried and although yes you will get a good whack of simple white carbohydrates and sugars, protein and fats, the micronutrients may be better found elsewhere. If nutrition is a concern, the company do provide a nutrition counter on their website for you to make a better informed choice. Concerns aside, it remains a convenient, fast and often tasty choice for those in a rush, or craving a bit of grease and sugar. Nothing wrong with that.

What McDonald's does do, it does well. A party of two can have a main meal comprising burger (chicken or beef), chips and a drink for around £8. The range of burgers is fairly good. Cheeseburgers, hamburgers, chicken burgers, chicken nuggets and salads. The chips are renowned for being particularly good, but they can be spoiled by too much salt if your server is a bit enthusiastic with the shaker.

One area where the company does fall down, is with options for vegetarians. They make it clear on their "Make Up Your Own Mind" website, where people can direct questions to the company, that they have no intention of broadening the vegetarian menu beyond the Spicy Veggie - which vegetarians may wish to note is not actually vegetarian. The ingredients are but the breaded vegetable burger is fried in oil that may have been in contact with chicken or fish. In reality, the only items on the menu that are approved by the Vegetarian Society are (according to the McDonald's Make Up Your Own Mind site) the French Fries, Hash Browns, Bagels, Oatso Simple, Garden Salad, Ice Cream, Carrot Sticks, Fruit Bags, Blueberry Muffins, Triple Chocolate Muffins and various beverages. I would find it difficult to put together a satisfying meal from this selection.

I visited McDonald's last night, and this is what prompted me to review. It was a fairly standard experience. Short queue, but if you order anything other than a very standard menu you will be kept waiting and asked to stand to one side while they take the next party's order. I always panic they're going to get food orders confused, but as yet it hasn't happened. I don't see why they can't use the system of giving everyone a number. I had a deli wrap. Having ordered the chicken and bacon deli of the day I was surprised to receive a sweet chilli chicken wrap. I didn't take it back because I wasn't too bothered, but despite being wrong it was hot and still tasted nice. It had lettuce and cucumber but no tomato. My companion had the summer chorizo burger, which he enjoyed. The chips were hot - which was a bonus as this isn't always the case. They got the drinks right. If it is important that you get the exact right items, I would recommend that you check, as getting the wrong items is something of a regular and some might argue inevitable occurrence in McDonald's. Still, it was a reasonable performance considering it was getting close to closing time. McDonald's does tend to have a longer opening period than competitors - some restaurants are open 24 hours, some have a 24 hour drive through.

Also - they offer student deals of free medium fries or standard mcflurry or hamburger / cheeseburger when you order an extra value meal or a deli sandwich meal (maybe others too). You have to show a student card but it doesn't have to be NUS. I've heard some franchised branches may not offer this, but I've never come across it.

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i'm loving it at maccie d's

I must confess that I am a bit of a fast food lover so this may be biased, but I just can't seem to get enough of the golden arches.

McDonalds have a great array of fast food choices, my children love the happy meals, but I do wish some of there specials, like the american themed burgers would be on sale for longer, or even on a permanent basis. They are so yummy you see.

The only negative point i'd like to make is that Mc'D's does seem to be pricey and why do some outlets charge more than others. I'm assuming this is part of a franchise agreement, but within a ten mile radius, the two fast foot outlets near me charge different prices for the same product.

This really annoys me, but all in all, Maccie D's will always do it for me, even when I am holidaying abroad. I really am loving it!